Picture hanging system

ABSTRACT

A picture hanging system comprised of a horizontally extending rail attached to the upper portion of a wall on which pictures are to be displayed. Said rail is spaced a precise horizontal distance away from the wall. Visual exposure of the rail and associated hardware can be eliminated by covering it with a decorative moulding that is quickly and easily attached. Cable assemblies can be quickly and easily connected at any desired location on the rail with the associated small diameter cables extending vertically downward. One or more clamp and hook assemblies can be directly attached to the cables at any point on the cable. The pictures are then hung from the hooks. If re-positioning of the pictures is required this can be done quickly and easily. With pictures installed the system achieves the highest possible aesthetic standards by virtue of the fact that only the molding and the very small diameter cables are visible.

PRIOR APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/424,153, filed Apr. 25, 2003, which claims the benefit of U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/375,672, filed Apr. 26, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to picture hanging systems and more particularlyto a system that permits quick and easy placement of pictures on wallsat desired locations while minimizing wall damage.

BACKGROUND

A picture is normally suspended from its hanging wire by a single hookthat is fastened to the wall by a nail. A well-known problem arises ininstalling the picture in the exact desired location on the wall whenusing the above noted method. Typically the hook is first installed onthe wall at a location judged to be approximately correct. The pictureis then hung and a determination is made as to where to relocate thehook to achieve a placement closer to the desired location. This trialand error method may involve several repetitions until the exact desiredlocation is obtained. It is also noisy, time consuming and damages thewall due to the multiple nail holes that are created. The problembecomes particularly acute in art galleries where numerous pictures aredisplayed on the walls, which are frequently replaced or moved.

Various picture-hanging systems have been developed, such as disclosedin Schuite, U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,021; Hayde, U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,987;Keers, U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,813 and Fleishman, U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,999,which are particularly for use in galleries, to overcome the above notedproblems. Such systems however suffer from one or more of the followingimpediments.

First, tools are often required to hang the pictures. Second, typically,additional pictures cannot be installed in the same area without firstremoving existing pictures and their associated hangers and thenre-installing them. Thirdly, the picture hook cannot be directlyconnected to the cable that supports the artwork. Rather, the cable hasto be fed through the hook until the hook reaches its intended locationon the cable. This is often time consuming and cumbersome. Fourthly, thecable hook can impart kinking on the support cable which, if exposed bylater moving the picture can be unsightly. Fifthly, the systemstypically use specialized equipment which can be costly to manufacture,and difficult to install.

There is therefore a need for a picture hanging system, which overcomessome, or all of the above identified shortcomings.

SUMMARY

The instant exemplary embodiments provide an adjustable, inexpensive,and easy to install track-based picture hanging system.

Some embodiments provide a low cost, unobtrusive, aestheticallyappealing, adjustable picture hanging system that allows quick, quiet,easy and precise placement of pictures at numerous locations on a wall,is easily and quickly adjustable and does not require special skills ortools to operate. Some embodiments utilize standard commerciallyavailable components for parts of the system.

Some embodiments provide a system having a rail mounted horizontallynear the top of a wall section, a cable suspended from the rail and acombination clamp and picture hook that can be directly engaged andclamped from the side to the cable. In some embodiments the clamp andpicture hook is tightened or loosened on the cable by an integralthumbscrew incorporated in the assembly thereby precluding the need forany tools. In some embodiments the clamp and picture hook assembly canbe quickly attached or detached from the lengths of a cable at any timewithout affecting other pictures already hanging on the cable or onother adjacent cables on the wall.

When installing a picture the cable is first connected to the rail atthe approximate desired horizontal location on the wall. Next the clampand hook assembly is installed on the cable at the approximate desiredvertical location on the wall. The picture is hung and a determinationis made if it is necessary to shift it vertically and/or horizontally.If a change in location is necessary the desired position is readilyachieved by moving the clamp and hook assembly vertically on the cablelengths and/or by moving the point of cable to rail attachmenthorizontally.

In some embodiments two clamp and hook assemblies can be employed foreach picture, spaced apart horizontally in cases where the picture isvery heavy, or where it is desired to eliminate any possible lateralmovement of the picture on the wall, or where additional supportredundancy is deemed necessary.

In some embodiments there is provided a system for hanging a picture ona wall, said system comprises: a rigid support member comprising anelongate ledge terminating at a rear edge; said member being secured tosaid wall so that said edge is substantially parallel with and spacedapart from said wall, thereby forming a gap between said edge and saidwall; a clip comprising: a backing portion having a first substantiallyplanar surface oriented to bear against said wall; a prong portionextending from said backing portion at a first angle; and, said prongportion having a first dimension greater than said gap and a seconddimension narrower than said gap, whereby said prong portion passesthrough said gap in a first orientation and will not pass through saidgap in a second orientation; and, means for releasably mounting saidpicture to said clip.

In some embodiments, said first orientation relates to said secondorientation by a rotation angle commensurate with said first angle. Insome embodiments, said clip further comprises a spring arm resilientlyconnected to said backing portion and oriented to bear against one of apair of opposing surfaces formed between said wall and said member. Insome embodiments, said spring arm is oriented to bear against said edge.In some embodiments, said prong portion and said backing portion form asubstantially L-shaped structure. In some embodiments, said spring armcomprises a substantially L-shaped structure dimensioned to nest withinsaid prong portion and said backing portion. In some embodiments, saidprong portion connects to said backing portion at a rounded bend.

In some embodiments, said means for releasably mounting comprise: alength of cable having first and second end portions, and a medialportion between said end portions; said first end portion being securedto said clip; a picture hook clamp assembly releasably secured to saidmedial portion. In some embodiments, said assembly comprises a generallyU-shaped body member comprising: first and second clamping platesconnected by an apex; said plates being frontwardly spaced apart a firstdistance; said second plate having a first angled projection therebyforming a picture hook; said body member having opposite lateral edgeportions; and, said body defining a substantially vertical centerline.In some embodiments, said clamp further comprises an adjustable fastenerengaging said clamping plates, said fastener being actuated to adjustsaid first distance. In some embodiments, said fastener comprises ascrew bonded to said first plate and penetrating opposing drillingsthrough said plates and engaging a wing nut. In some embodiments, saidbody member is shaped to have a cutout extending medially along saidapex from a lateral edge and terminating at a stop surface beyond saidcenterline of said clamp. In some embodiments, said screw is located tohave a lateral surface substantially vertically in line with said stopsurface, thereby providing two contact points upon which said cable iscentered.

In some embodiments, said rigid support member consists of a standardcommercially available slotted bookshelf mounting rail.

In some embodiments the system further comprises a spacer having athickness determining said gap. In some embodiments, said spacercomprises first and second concentric and adjacent washers, wherein saidfirst washer is formed to have a centerhole having a first diameter andsaid second washer is formed to have a centerhole having a seconddiameter, and wherein said first diameter is larger than said seconddiameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a wall on which a horizontally extendingrail is attached near the top of the wall according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a portion of the rail of FIG. 1 at a railto wall attachment point.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view at the rail to wall anchorment ofFIG. 2 taken along the line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view at the rail to wall anchorment ofFIG. 2 taken along the line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the cable and retainer clip assembly.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the cable and retainer clip assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an elevation front view of the clamp and hook assembly and ofthe associated cable to which it is attached.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the clamp and hook assembly ofFIG. 6 taken along the line 8-8.

FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are side views of the wall, retainer clipand rail showing the sequential engagement of the retainer clip into itsfinal operating position.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the installed picture hanging system ona wall showing all elements of the system including the rail, cableassembly and clamp and hook assembly.

FIG. 13 is an elevation view of a wall showing typical installationoptions that are available for pictures to be displayed on a wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4 the horizontaldeployment of a rigid support member or rail 1 to which the cables areconnected on a typical section of wall 2. The rail is a standardcommercially available slotted bookshelf mounting rail generally used inbook shelving systems that can be purchased in varying lengths in mosthardware stores. The rail has a generally U-shaped cross-section formingan elongate channel 3. In a horizontal orientation the rail has asubstantially planar front panel 4 having top and bottom edges 5, 6. Topand bottom panels 7, 8 extend orthogonally back from the front paneledges to define the inner channel 3. When horizontally anchored to awall 2, the bottom panel 8 forms an elongate ledge having a rear edge 9.The rail is anchored and spaced a controlled distance apart from thewall to form a gap G so that the rear edge 9 of the ledge issubstantially parallel to the plane of the wall 2.

The rail has a number of regularly spaced holes 10 extending throughfrom the front surface of the front panel 4 to the channel 3. Each holeis sized to accommodate a screw 11 inserted for the purpose of anchoringthe rail 1 to the wall 2 as shown more clearly in FIG. 4. Each hole 10is countersunk into the front panel so that the fastening screws areflush with the outer surface of the rail after installation.

To maximize the load carrying capability of the screws at the rail holelocations, particularly when installing the screws into dry wall,commercially available expansion anchors 15 may be employed as shown inFIG. 4. The rail 1 is anchored spaced a controlled amount apart from thewall to form a gap G, using spacers 16 whose thickness T can determinethe size of the gap. The gap can be about ⅛ of an inch. Each spacer 16can be formed using two concentrically aligned adjacent washers 18 and19. Washer 18 has a centerhole 20 having an internal diameter that isslightly larger than the widened head 14 of the expansion anchor so thatit can be accommodated without interference. Washer 19 has a centerholehaving an internal diameter slightly larger than the screw 11 shaft butsmaller than the diameter of the expansion anchor head 14. Thisarrangement prevents the expansion anchor from backing out of the wallwhen the screw is fastened to the wall and also provides a solidmounting of the rail gapped ⅛″ away from the wall. The two washers 18and 19 may be bonded to each other using an adhesive to assureconcentricity of the mounting and ease of installation.

The regularly spaced screw holes 10 incorporated in rail 1 also serve asa template for locating the attachment points on the wall. Attachmentpoints 25 on the wall are therefore not governed by stud locations onthe wall but rather by the predetermined hole spacing on the rails. Inthis way, installation of the system is simplified so that relativelyunskilled persons can accomplish it quickly and easily. Full loadcapability is achieved by the use of the wall expansion anchors 15. Theincorporation of the holes in the rail eliminates the need to explorethe wall for stud locations and also precludes the need to for theinstallers to make metal drillings into the rail.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 show respectively the front and sideviews of cable assembly 28. It is comprised of a length of multi-strandcable 29, retainer clip 30, and cable compression ferrules 31 installedon both ends of the cable. A hole 32 is incorporated on the centerlineof retainer clip 30 allowing the cable 29 to pass through. Thecompression ferrules 31 at both ends serve to keep the multi-strandcable from unraveling at its end portions, to retain the cable so thatit cannot be extracted from retainer clip 30, and to carry the full loadimparted by pictures connected to the cable. The clip 30 is formed by abacking portion 35 having a substantially planar back surface 36 to bearflatly against the wall surface when the clip is properly engaging therail. A prong portion 37 extends forwardly from an upper portion of thebacking at an angle A to form a substantially L-shaped structure. Theclip also has a substantially similarly angled L-shaped spring armstructure 40 extending forwardly from a lower portion 38 of the backing35 and oriented to resiliently nest into the backing and backing prong.This provides a pair of surfaces to bear against the opposing surfacesformed by the wall 2 and edge 9 of the ledge thereby increasing frictionbetween the clip and rail to help prevent the clip from beinginadvertently moving. The spring arm also has a prong forwardlyprojecting from an upper portion of the arm. Both the backing prong andspring arm prongs slidingly contact each other to allow compression ofthe clip and provide added strength to the clip.

The transition from backing to prong is made by a gradual rounded bend41 so that rotational movement of the clip can be made smoothly.

The retainer clip is typically made of a corrosion resistant spring typemetal alloy such as stainless steel. The cable is typically made ofcorrosion resistant stainless steel and although small in diameter has aload rating sufficiently high to be able to carry several heavy pictureswith a sizeable safety factor included.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of an integral cable clamp and picture hookassembly 52 and FIG. 8 shows a sectional side view of the assembly. Theassembly is comprised of a body member 53 having a substantiallyU-shaped cross-section. In an orientation to engage a vertically hangingcable 29 and to have a frontwardly projecting picture hook 54, the bodymember has front and back clamping plates 55, 56 connected in afrontwardly spaced apart manner by an upper apex 57 to allow the cable29 to pass between the inner clamping surfaces 60, 61 formed by theplates. The body member incorporates two concentric drillings 62,63orthogonally through the plates. A screw 64 is pressed into the drilling63 in the front plate and inserts through the other drilling in the backplate to engage a wing nut 65. The screw and wing nut form an adjustablefastener so that tightening fastener creates a powerful clamping actionon the body plates to reduce the distance between the plates and therebyclamp onto a medial portion of the cable placed in the space between theplates. In this way, the cable is not kinked by the clamping plates.

The body section 53 can be inexpensively formed from a single cut sheetof metal that has been folded twice, first to create the clamping plates55, 56 and secondly to create the hook portion 54. The apex 57 of thebody member has a cutout 70 extending medially from one lateral edge 71and terminating at an endstop 72 just beyond the centerline 75 of thebody. The drillings in the body and the cutout are configured in amanner so that when a cable 29 is inserted into the body it is guided attwo points that align the cable to pass precisely through the centerlineof the body. This is important to achieve symmetrical loading and avoidany cocking of the clamp and hook assembly 52 when a picture is hung onthe hook. In other words, the endstop 72 and the lateral edge 76 of thepart of the thumb screw 64 bridging the space between the plates arelocated about ½ the width of the cable so that the center of the cablepasses through the centerline. Insertion of the clamp into the cable andremoval from the cable is directly from the side. This is very importantin achieving speedy engagement and disengagement of the clamp and hookassembly 52 with the cable 29.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show the stepwise connection process of the cableassembly 28 retainer clip 11 to rail 1. FIG. 9 shows the initialinsertion and engagement of the retainer clip 30 into the rail. Theretainer clip at this point is in an uncompressed state. Next, in FIG.10 it is rotated clockwise and partially compressed between the rail 1and the wall 2 by the act of rotation. Finally, in FIG. 11, continuingthe clockwise movement of the retainer clip, it is fully compressedbetween the rail and the wall with the cable 29 extending downward nextto the wall. At this point the cable assembly is securely connected tothe rail with both retainer clip prongs engaging the lower ledge of therail and fully capable of carrying the load imparted by picturesconnected to the cable.

FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of the picture hanging system deployedon a wall section. The rail 1 is shown properly gapped G away from thewall 2, the retainer clip 30 of the cable assembly 28 engages the railand the cable clamp and hook assembly 52 is connected to cable 29. Thecable clamp and hook assembly is now ready to receive a picture. Ifinitially the hook is not in the exact desired position it can beshifted horizontally by moving the retainer clip to a new location onthe rail. This does not require a complete disengagement of the cableassembly from the rail but rather only a partial counterclockwiserotation of the retainer clip, slidement along the rail to its newlocation, followed by a clockwise rotation of the clip into its engagedposition. Final vertical positioning of the hook is then accomplished ifnecessary by loosening the wing nut, sliding the cable clamp and hookassembly 52 vertically on the cable 29 to the desired location, followedby tightening of the wing nut. The picture is hung on the hook and theinstallation is complete.

The rail 1 as installed is fully functional. However because of theaesthetic requirements of most gallery settings it is desirable but notessential to cover the rail and associated visible fasteners with amoulding. A typical cosmetic moulding 76 comprised of a wood, plastic ormetal channel section that fits closely over the outer surfaces of therail 1 is shown in FIG. 12. Other moulding shapes are also possibleincluding angle sections, flat strips or contoured shapes. As necessarythe mouldings can be attached to the rail using double sided adhesivetapes or adhesive backed Velcro strips, press fit channel wood orplastic etc. The mouldings can be painted if deemed necessary to blendin with the wall. Typically the mouldings are standard commerciallyavailable parts.

FIG. 13 shows a variety of ways that pictures can be hung on a wall andthe versatility of the picture hanging system. On the left side of FIG.13 a picture 81 is hung in its intended location. Excess cable length iscoiled up 82 upon itself before the picture is hung so that the cable ishidden behind the picture. Picture 83 is shown hanging below andslightly to the right of picture 81. The cable that supports picture 83is routed behind picture 81. In the center of FIG. 13 picture 85 isshown hanging directly beneath picture 84, both suspended from a singlecable assembly 28 that employs two clamp and hook assemblies 52. Ifdesired picture 84 can be removed from the wall without disturbingpicture 85 by simply loosening and directly removing the associatedclamp and hook assembly from the cable. A large and heavy picture 86 isshown on the right side of FIG. 13. It is supported by two cableassemblies and two clamp and hook assemblies. This suspension methoddoubles the load carrying capacity of the system and also prevents apicture from moving laterally on the wall due to some externaldisturbance.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described,modifications can be made and other embodiments may be devised withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A system for hanging a picture on a wall, said system comprises: arigid support member comprising an elongate ledge terminating at a rearedge; said member being secured to said wall so that said edge issubstantially parallel with and spaced apart from said wall, therebyforming a gap between said edge and said wall; a clip comprising: abacking portion having a first substantially planar surface oriented tobear against said wall; a prong portion extending from said backingportion at a first angle; and, said prong portion having a firstdimension greater than said gap and a second dimension narrower thansaid gap, whereby said prong portion passes through said gap in a firstorientation and will not pass through said gap in a second orientation;and, means for releasably mounting said picture to said clip.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said first orientation relates to said secondorientation by a rotation angle commensurate with said first angle. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein said clip further comprises a spring armresiliently connected to said backing portion and oriented to bearagainst one of a pair of opposing surfaces formed between said wall andsaid member.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said spring arm isoriented to bear against said edge.
 5. The system of claim 1, whereinsaid prong portion and said backing portion form a substantiallyL-shaped structure.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said spring armcomprises a substantially L-shaped structure dimensioned to nest withinsaid prong portion and said backing portion.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein said prong portion connects to said backing portion at a roundedbend.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for releasablymounting comprise: a length of cable having first and second endportions, and a medial portion between said end portions; said first endportion being secured to said clip; a picture hook clamp assemblyreleasably secured to said medial portion.
 9. The system of claim 8,wherein said assembly comprises a generally U-shaped body membercomprising: first and second clamping plates connected by an apex; saidplates being frontwardly spaced apart a first distance; said secondplate having a first angled projection thereby forming a picture hook;said body member having opposite lateral edge portions; and, said bodydefining a substantially vertical centerline.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein said clamp further comprises an adjustable fastener engagingsaid clamping plates, said fastener being actuated to adjust said firstdistance.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein said fastener comprises ascrew bonded to said first plate and penetrating opposing drillingsthrough said plates and engaging a wing nut.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein said body member is shaped to have a cutout extending mediallyalong said apex from a lateral edge and terminating at a stop surfacebeyond said centerline of said clamp.
 13. The system of claim 12,wherein said screw is located to have a lateral surface substantiallyvertically in line with said stop surface, thereby providing two contactpoints upon which said cable is centered.
 14. The system of claim 1,wherein said rigid support member consists of a standard commerciallyavailable slotted bookshelf mounting rail.
 15. The system of claim 1,which further comprises a spacer having a thickness determining saidgap.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said spacer comprises first andsecond concentric and adjacent washers, wherein said first washer isformed to have a centerhole having a first diameter and said secondwasher is formed to have a centerhole having a second diameter, andwherein said first diameter is larger than said second diameter.